TSX Bang Flops

I gotta tend to side with Gatehouse - i've shot several animals now with the tsx and the tendancy to put them on the ground quickly is pretty darn good out of a 30 cal.

I've seen a little less 'bang flop' action when they're used in 7mm - my bro hasn't had that happen yet with his. But out of 300's and 30-06's they've been pretty deadly for quick 'on the ground' action. Even ones that weren't hit on or near the spine.
 
Dogleg said:
I like the TSX but get more bang flops with conventional bullets. The trade-off between maximum penetration and limited expansion is inescapeable and choices have to be made. The TSX will shoot through a big animal lengthwise or corner to corner, but may leave another looking unhit. I have had more run than not on rib hits, some a long way. Shoulder hits tend to KO anything.
My experience is limited to about 40 animals with this bullet (5 calibers), but I see them at their best in big calibers for real big animals, and hyper velocity calibers. It gets bonus points for the meat hunters, but they are the least likely to pay a buck or so a bullet. The search for the elusive perfect bullet continues, perhaps with A-Frames?
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2X on "The TSX will shoot through a big animal lengthwise or corner to corner"


I haven't warmed up entirely to TSX due to its inconsistent performance with my limited experience plus what other have reported. There must be problems with TSX otherwise Barnes wouldn't been improving it every year. I am willing to try them for one more season.
 
Foxer said:
I gotta tend to side with Gatehouse - i've shot several animals now with the tsx and the tendancy to put them on the ground quickly is pretty darn good out of a 30 cal.

I've seen a little less 'bang flop' action when they're used in 7mm - my bro hasn't had that happen yet with his. But out of 300's and 30-06's they've been pretty deadly for quick 'on the ground' action. Even ones that weren't hit on or near the spine.
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I second this seen it lots lately and have done it as well
 
I have taken 6 muleys with TSX's with my .280 from 20 to +250 yds, all but one dropped instantly and that was my fault (poor shot placement). I do the same as GH, save the TSX's for hunting and load a similar load with an inexpensive bullet for practice.
 
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Perhaps the TSX's mighty performance and price tag can make up for "not so well" placed shots???
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No, it really doesn't make up for a poorly executed shot. But, from what I've seen, it will punch through some big critters without coming apart. That part was pretty reassuring.

I certainly recommend the idea of shooting a less expensive bullet, especially for punching paper (Hornady Interlocks and Sierra GameKings have been my favourite range bullets for "a long time";)).

But, if you're going to spend a pile of cash on a hunt, why not spend a few bucks more on bullets that will hold together? (and here, I lump together all of the bonded and partition bullets together with the Triple Shocks).

If you can't put the bullet where it's supposed to go, a whiz-bang bullet or uber-magnum cartridge won't save the situation. Speaking for myself, I used the TSX's in the good-ol' 7x57 and .270 Winchester ('cause I could shoot them accurately). Tried and true calibers that require good shot placement to do their job.
 
I better tell those deer in the freezer they can go free since I only shot them with conventional seirras (130's out of a plain 270 no less). The 4 deer this year ran a total of 25 yards. 35 yards of total movement if you count the buck sliding down the hill on it's back.

Mind you since I had down graded from the 338 they do run a tich more with the 270(maybe 100 yards of total travel distance in 3 seasons). Mind you the 338 and a 200 gr Nosler bt would bang flop a deer in a special sort of way.

Don't get me wrong I consider the TSX a great head , though I am from the religious camp that thinks some fragmentation is a good thing. Hate to say it but it fixes a problem that 80% of the time does not exist.
 
The arguement for conventional "inexpensive" bullets as "just as good" is so far off the mark that it's rediculous. Unless of course your a texas whitetail (read rat) hunter. When you have the opportunity to hunt the variety and size of species that most of us hunt I, for the life of me, cannot see the justification behind shooting anything other than a "premium" bullet.

I'm a TSX fan, and for good reason. They've yet to fail to do the job on anything I've shot them at. The following is a sampling of me and a pards hunting in the last two seasons while using TSX's.

Mine: 150yds 7mm Rem Mag 160 TSX (bang flop)
P10302381.jpg


Mine: 220yds 30-06 150gr TSX, went 5 ft.
P1040311.jpg


Another bear of mine. 240yds 30-06 150gr TSX, rolled down a mountain.
P1040345.jpg


Wife: 75yds 260 120gr TSX (bang flop)
P1040383.jpg


Mine: 195yds 30-06 150gr TSX, went 30yds
06wt1.jpg


Pard: past 400 (lasered but reluctant to say) 280 rem 140 TSX, didn't go far and conventional cup and core bullet found healed and lodged against shoulder bone.
Elk020copy.jpg


Mine: 427yds 30-06 150gr TSX lengthways through the rear, rolled down the mountain.
bighorncropped.jpg


Pard: 412yds 280 rem 140gr TSX, ram bedded facing away through hip and broke shoulder at the other end, head fell 8 inches to the dirt.
P1060021.jpg


Dad: 65yds 7-08 120gr TSX, went 10yds
P1060449.jpg


Mine: 140yds 30-06 150gr TSX, went 40yds. Picture of the exit wound below.
P1060381.jpg

P1060383.jpg


There are more that I don't have pictures of that were also shot with a TSX of some sort, with the same boring results.
 
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Danny Boy said:
2X on "The TSX will shoot through a big animal lengthwise or corner to corner".....
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I recover most of my TSX bullets from moose and elk. While they do penetrate well they are nothing like the old X.
I shot a big bear in the chest with old style 300gr .416 X that exited the rear ham. I shot 2 moose broad side with 270gr 375 TSXs and recovered both (picture perfect) bullets.

I never had a bang flop with the old X bullet......

Danny Boy said:
I haven't warmed up entirely to TSX due to its inconsistent performance with my limited experience plus what other have reported. There must be problems with TSX otherwise Barnes wouldn't been improving it every year. I am willing to try them for one more season.
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In terms of historical bullet evolution the X bullets are still infantile.

I have shot Barnes X since they first came out and they have never stopped changing. I find that the best way to handle this is treat them like powder. I buy X bullets of the same lot number in quantity and then check new lots to verify the load performs the same.....A small price to pay for the best big game performance bullet money can buy.

I applaud Barnes bullets commitment to excellence. They could leave it alone, but they insist on implementing new and better designs. I think this is a good thing.




Yes, I and the guys I hunt with are getting more bang flops with the TSX......So what!
I am more interested in seeing a bullet that reaches the vitals (while holding its expanded form) from all angles, in all types of game, through all types of anatomy, and at all reasonable velocities....No small feat!

Some of the worst big game bullets in history killed like lightning (when they worked). The 180 Nosler Ballistic tip (driven out of a fast magnum) is one of these.

Last year my buddy had a TSX bang flop on a running deer.....Didn't twitch!
When he got up to the animal he saw it was a perfect gut shot! Then he had a repeat performance (liver) on a medium sized moose.

I don't want to suggest something stupid.....But it did get our attention!

Draw your own conclusions....
 
Seems to me that your'e either a Barnes lover or your not. Me, I dont' care but it also seems to me that most Barnes users call us Hornady afficionados - cheap bastards ;) Is that true Clark? Why is it that you guys who can't shoot worth a #### need premium expensive bullets to do the job that you ####ed up on in the first place ???? :D:D:D:D:D

Save your pictures, I don't need to see inedible meat....bahahahahah.
 
chuck nelson said:
The arguement for conventional "inexpensive" bullets as "just as good" is so far off the mark that it's rediculous. Unless of course your a texas whitetail (read rat) hunter. When you have the opportunity to hunt the variety and size of species that most of us hunt I, for the life of me, cannot see the justification behind shooting anything other than a "premium" bullet.

I'm a TSX fan, and for good reason. They've yet to fail to do the job on anything I've shot them at. The following is a sampling of me and a pards hunting in the last two seasons while using TSX's.

Mine: 150yds 7mm Rem Mag 160 TSX (bang flop)
P10302381.jpg


Mine: 220yds 30-06 150gr TSX, went 5 ft.
P1040311.jpg


Another bear of mine. 240yds 30-06 150gr TSX, rolled down a mountain.
P1040345.jpg


Wife: 75yds 260 120gr TSX (bang flop)
P1040383.jpg


Mine: 195yds 30-06 150gr TSX, went 30yds
06wt1.jpg


Pard: past 400 (lasered but reluctant to say) 280 rem 140 TSX, didn't go far and conventional cup and core bullet found healed and lodged against shoulder bone.
Elk020copy.jpg


Mine: 427yds 30-06 150gr TSX lengthways through the rear, rolled down the mountain.
bighorncropped.jpg


Pard: 412yds 280 rem 140gr TSX, ram bedded facing away through hip and broke shoulder at the other end, head fell 8 inches to the dirt.
P1060021.jpg


Dad: 65yds 7-08 120gr TSX, went 10yds
P1060449.jpg


Mine: 140yds 30-06 150gr TSX, went 40yds. Picture of the exit wound below.
P1060381.jpg

P1060383.jpg


There are more that I don't have pictures of that were also shot with a TSX of some sort, with the same boring results.
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How come with all those nice animals you look so sad in the pictures?
 
Ok, so what meant to ask really....is that you feel premium expensive bullets will get you the game that you can't otherwise harvest with cheapo Interlocks. Wanna compare trophies Gatehouse? I don't like to chase game either after the shot. Shot placement buddy, shot placement.
 
premium bullets are good insurance. They wont turn a bad hit into a good one, although deep penetration can sometimes come in handy. Animals dont always stand broadside, especially if they offer a 2nd shot.

TSX just plain kill good, and shoot good. If you dont have the $50 a year to spend on them, dont. If you dont want to buy them because they cost 3x as much as a Hornady, then save your $ and go spend it on coffee or beer and stfu
 
todbartell said:
premium bullets are good insurance. They wont turn a bad hit into a good one, although deep penetration can sometimes come in handy. Animals dont always stand broadside, especially if they offer a 2nd shot.

TSX just plain kill good, and shoot good. If you dont have the $50 a year to spend on them, dont. If you dont want to buy them because they cost 3x as much as a Hornady, then save your $ and go spend it on coffee or beer and stfu
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Bartell, you think I have a problem spending 50 bucks? I #### money you save OK. D'you need proof? Your one-liner smart-arse comments don't impress me...BOY.
 
Salty said:
This thread has POOOOOA-Ten-Shull :D:D:D:D:50cal::50cal::D:D:D
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Yup, that's the reason that Bartell and the likes of him "ring" up so many posts, their one-liner stupid comments.

Edit: see, it all started with an intelligent conversation and debate until some "wanabee" punk rap music loving tit sucking little know-it-all- PUNK chimed in....
 
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Bartell, you think I have a problem spending 50 bucks? I s**t money you save OK. D'you need proof? Your one-liner smart-arse comments don't impress me...BOY.
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That'll be about enough of that crap gitrdun. There's no call for that.
 
Bull####, bull####, bull#### Foxer. Sorry but #### it, I won't take crap from that little smart-assed kid. I don't fall into the "Bartell Godlinesss" bull####, bull####. Do what you gotta do man.
 
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